Q: I noticed that the Bronco defense has not allowed a single fourth-quarter point over the past five games. If that level of defensive play can be maintained, do you think that would in itself carry the Broncos to the Big Show in the Big Easy?

A: Roland, you are obviously referencing Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. As good as the Broncos’ fourth-quarter heroics have been for much of the season, on both sides of the ball, there is plenty of ground to cover between the current 3-3 mark, with no wins over a team that currently has a winning record, and the title game.

But the Broncos have not surrendered a fourth-quarter point since Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit wide receiver Mike Wallace with a three-yard touchdown pass with 14:11 left in the fourth quarter of the season opener.

The Broncos are a robust league-best plus-73 in fourth-quarter scoring this season, having outscored their opponents 79-6. The Giants, at plus-36 in the fourth quarter, are a distant second while the Bears, who played Monday night, are third at plus-33.

In four of the Broncos’ games — Atlanta, Houston, New England and San Diego — they have been in catch-up mode, having trailed by 20, 20, 17 and 10 points heading into the fourth quarter of those games. So, the numbers are skewed a bit in that regard since they have likely been far more aggressive offensively and defensively than they would have been had they held a comfortable lead going into the fourth quarter in any of those games.

With a 31-6 lead against Oakland heading into the fourth quarter, for example, the Broncos outscored the Raiders just 6-0 in the final quarter.

But defensively, the Broncos have the raw athleticism and overall team speed to present problems to opposing offenses if they can keep themselves in the mix coming down the stretch and avoid injuries to Von Miller, Champ Bailey and Elvis Dumervil in particular.

If any of those three were to miss substantial time, especially Miller and Bailey, the Broncos would be challenged to use many of their best pass-rush packages.

Defensively, the question they will have to answer at some point, if they are going to legitimately be in the playoff mix, is can they defend out of their nickel and dime defenses.

They rush with the most vigor out of the dime and have given opposing quarterbacks some significant problems when they’ve used it. And Tony Carter’s play in San Diego — an interception and fumble return for a touchdown — will likely mean they use it a little more in the coming weeks.

But they still haven’t consistently shown they can hold up in run defense when offenses spread them out. The Patriots rushed for 140 yards against the Broncos’ nickel package and for 19 additional yards against the dime. And Denver will get tested in that way in the weeks to come, likely starting Sunday with the Saints.

The Broncos also still have the kind of coverage bobbles a playoff-worthy defense can’t have — things like assignment errors or players biting on fakes because they’re taking peeks at the quarterback instead of playing with what Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio calls “good eye discipline.” And they miss tackles as well.

And because of D.J. Williams’ suspensions, they have played mix-and-match at linebacker at times. That has worked against the Broncos as well. Offenses have routinely attacked the group in pass coverage especially.

But again, if the Broncos could play with the lead a little more, their defense would be in a better position to dictate play, particularly when it comes to playing to the team’s strengths in the pass rush. But that will take a better effort on both sides of the ball before the Broncos get to show that fourth-quarter finishing kick.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.